Kolhapur-based poet-music teacher Dr Azad Papalal Nayakawadi, 39, is called a shahir (bard) on the move. When not teaching at the Usharaje High School, he is either facilitating medical help for patients from rural areas, or travelling India-wide to present his powadas or trademark folk ballad of Maharashtra to varied audiences. He has performed four times for the various Presidents of India. At this point, his city, like most areas in the state, operates under a curfew to combat the Coronavirus outbreak. A home-bound Dr Nayakawadi has, therefore, penned a powada asking people not to panic and follow hygiene guidelines. He has also busted some myths about the virus in his ballad: Daru cigarettene Corona marto moorkhancha upadesh/dhoop gaurya jala sangti, chukicha sandesh (Fools advocate liquor and cigarettes as antidotes to Corona/other ignorant souls say light dhoop and cowdung cakes). The powada advocates the use of sanitiser and soap; condemns habits like spitting and coughing without the use of masks.

Dr Nayakawadi started singing powadas at the age of seven; he has so far written 75, of which a sizeable number are premised on mass awareness themes like water conservation and climate control. But, his latest one on Coronavirus prevention has worked wonders on social media platforms. "I cannot move freely in these times, but my message can be amplified on cyberspace," says the bard, who has become a popular folk voice in the discourse around the virus across Maharashtra. "This is the least I can do—write and sing—when indoors," says Dr Nayakawadi, born to a Muslim father—also a shahir —and a Hindu mother. He says the outbreak has motivated his entire family, wife and children included, to devote their crowd pulling power for a cause.